Cash injection for low-carbon community in Chale

Tuesday, December 22, 2009 - 10:51

A £10 MILLION eco-fund will help an Island community’s ecological aspirations.
Chale Green is to become much greener thanks to a £500,000 slice of the government’s Low Carbon Communities Challenge Fund.
The Chale Green project, supported by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, will use the cash for a host of environmental projects.
They include installing renewable green technology at South Wight Housing homes on the Spanners Close estate and a community solar power installation.
It is hoped the project will eventually help lead 10,000 people out of fuel poverty, according to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, established by the record-breaking yachtswoman.
She described the news Chale had been awarded the money as like Christmas come early.
As part of the scheme, community champions will work in the community and promote green issues and ways to reduce fuel costs.
"We will be sharing our experiences, good and bad, and we hope this project will become a beacon for other communities around the UK," said Dame Ellen.
Chale is just one of ten communities chosen to receive cash at this stage, after its successful entry in a competition run by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC).
Climate change minister Joan Ruddock said: "The UK has the most ambitious emissions reduction commitments in the world and communities like Chale Green will help to develop the policies we need in the future to make the successful transition to a low-carbon economy."

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